Article

Bishops’ special Synod, held in Rome from October 5-19, 2014 was discussing “the Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization”. In the presence of various challenges to family, it is the fundamental duty of the Church to provide better pastoral care to our families.

It is the responsibility of the parish community to cater the various pastoral needs of the family life. In view of giving better co-ordination and animation to the various programs for the psycho-social and spiritual empowerment of the families at the parish and mission levels a Diocesan Family Apostolate is established.

As per the discussions held in the last meeting of Diocesan Pastoral Council and Priest Conference, hereby I announce a “Year of Family” from December 25, 2014 to December 25, 2015 to be observed in our diocese. “You are God’s field, God’s Household” (I Cor 3,9). Let this be our motto for this family year. The official inauguration of this Family Year is to be done in our parishes and missions on December 25, 2014. Rev. Fathers are requested to follow the pastoral recommendations for the Family Year at the parish and mission level given from the diocesan center.

It is also a matter of great joy that ‘Eighth World Meeting of Families’ takes place in Philadelphia (September 22-27, 2015) during the observance of Family Year in our diocese. The theme for this family meet is: “Love is our Mission: the Family Fully Alive”. Together with the universal Church, let us try our best to make our families fully alive in love. May the Baby Jesus who became the center of family through his Incarnation shower His abundant graces on our families. Let the Holy Family of Nazareth be the right model to our families in accomplishing the responsibilities entrusted by God.

Family Apostolate Commission

A diocesan level commission is constituted with the following members for coordinating the programs of the Family Year.